Beth Israel denies woes

Just weeks after eliminating 20 workers,  BIDMC announces the closure of Stoneman 5 -- a 24-bed medical unit – following reductions in inpatient volumes.

  April 6, 2012 Beth Israel denies woes

Major Department of Justice Investigation Launched into BI’s One Day Stays

The US Dept. of Justice (DoJ) and Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have launched an investigation into BIDMC’s Medicare billing practices, scrutinizing the number of patients admitted for short-stay admissions.  In 2008, 1199SEIU wrote to the CareGroup board of directors about the high rate of one-day stays at BIDMC, warning them of possible additional scrutiny from regulators.  Patients admitted for one day stays can cost Medicare upwards of $5,000 more than if they were held for observation, which can drive up healthcare costs.

The DoJ/OIG investigation focuses on short-stay admissions from 6/1/2004 – 2/4/2010.

February 4, 2012 Hospital's Medicare billing examined

Attachments: CareGroup August 2011 disclosure(PDF), CareGroup Dec 2011 quarterly disclosure(PDF), 2008 Letter to the board

Additional coverage:

February 6, 2012 Beth Israel billing practices probed

  CMS Anti-Fraud Program To Begin In June

February 6, 2012 Boston's BIDMC Medicare billing examined

February 6, 2012 Boston hospital's Medicare billing examined

February 6, 2012 Feds investigate Beth Israel for overbilling

February 6, 2012 Feds probe Beth Israel’s billing practices

February 6, 2012 Feds Probe Beth Israel’s Billing Practices

February 6, 2012 Feds Probe Boston Hospital
 
February 6, 2012 Feds probe Beth Israel's billing practices
 
February 6, 2012 Feds probe Beth Israel's billing practices
 
February 6, 2012 Feds Probe Beth Israel’s Billing Practices
 
February 6, 2012 Feds probe Beth Israel's billing practices



Feds settle fraud suit against BIDMC for Medicare overbilling

Federal  authorities won or negotiated fraud settlements totaling $2.4 billion FY 2011, including nearly $234K in May 2011 from BIDMC in a case where BIDMC allegedly overbilled Medicare for drug treatments using the wrong billing code, resulting in the hospital being paid nearly double what it should have been paid for the drug.  BIDMC-Needham paid nearly $60K to settle similar charges that same month.

Feb.14, 2012 Federal authorities report record fraud judgments, settlements in 2011

Fraud Settlements report 2011

See 5/12/2011 enforcement actions.

Wrong site surgeries continue at BIDMC

Between September and December 2010, BIDMC surgeons conducted three wrong-site spine surgeries, operating on the wrong vertebrae in all three cases.  These three errors stood out, according to the Boston Globe, as there were 11 spine surgery errors statewide from 2006 – 2008.

  Report: Boston Hospital Botched Spinal Surgeries

   Beth Israel erred in 3 spinal operations

Biopsy error results in an unnecessary surgery

In August 2010, news surfaced that an error in the BIDMC pathology lab resulted in unnecessary cancer surgery.

Mistakes that matter, by Jonathan Saltzman, the Boston Globe, August 2, 2010

BIDMC and PILOT Payments

Hospitals, universities and other nonprofit institutions in Boston make voluntary payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) which help to defray costs of municipal services such as police, fire, and snow removal.  BIDMCs payments, compared to other Boston hospitals, have been noticeably low for years. The Mayor’s PILOT Task Force has developed guidelines that will increase BIDMCs annual payment to $3.1M within five years.  Their current payment of $167,000 will grow to $750,000 next year.

  May 17, 2011 NPR’s All Things Considered: Cash Strapped Cities Put the Squeeze on Nonprofits

April 24, 2011 City Sends ‘Tax’ Bills to Major Nonprofits
January 3, 2011  Nonprofits Should Use Formula for Payments In Lieu of Taxes
May 31, 2009  Much is Given by Hospitals, More is Asked

Click here to read the full archive of articles.

A New Day for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Search Committee Announced to Find Hospital’s Next CEO

The Board of Directors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has tapped a former civil rights attorney to head the search for the next CEO of the hospital.

Margaret Mckenna, who currently serves as the head of Walmart’s charitable giving efforts previously served as the head of Lesley College and as a member of the Carter administration, will head the search committee which also will include eight doctors and the head of BIDMC’s nursing staff.

“There’s nothing more challenging today than what is happening with medical care and health,” said Mckenna in an email obtained by the Boston Herald. “Beth Israel will take (its) time, to find the best person.”

May 4, 2011 Beth Israel Deaconess CEO search heats up

 February 16, 2011 Woman leads Beth Israel boss search

BIDMC’s Board of Directors release letter to staff

Under Pressure from Healthcare Workers and Boston Media, Beth Israel Deaconess Board of Directors Release Details on Levy’s “Negotiated Severance”

After weeks of pressure from healthcare workers across Boston and other community groups, BIDMC’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Stephen Kay, announced the terms of the package reached with outgoing CEO Paul Levy in late January.

“The Board concluded that this agreement was in the best interest of the medical center and the people it serves,” said Kay in an email to the Boston Globe. “Just under two years before Paul’s contract would have expired, the Board of Directors has agreed with Paul on a negotiated departure.”

Reacting to the changing description of the payments, Globe columnist Brian McGrory wrote, “Nobody is questioning whether BIDMC has world-class doctors and intelligent nurses. But what it also has is an executive team that is now constantly inviting the question: What else are they lying about?”

February 9, 2011 Trust? It’s on life support
January 22, 2011 Levy’s exit cushioned by $1.6 million severance deal
January 19, 2011  No words for severance

January 22, 2011 Unions rip Paul Levy severance pay

January 19, 2011 Boston's Beth Israel Officials Mum on Paul Levy's Severance Pay

All Eyes on Levy: Boston media calls for Board of BIDMC to Disclose Outgoing CEO's Severance

Boston Globe columnist Brian McGrory calls on outgoing Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy and the Board of BIDMC to disclose any severance set to be paid to Levy upon his departure as head of the hospital.  Levy resigned abruptly at the beginning of the month following considerable scrutiny of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, including calls from the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization of Women and 1199SEIU for his ouster.  For more background click here.

 No Words for Severance

  Boston's Beth Israel Officials Mum on Paul Levy's Severance Pay

Paul Levy Resigns

After months of pressure from 1199SEIU and the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women, embattled Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy announced his resignation January 7, 2011.

Beth Israel chief Paul Levy Resigns
Beth Israel chief resigns, successes shadowed by controversy
Beth Israel Deaconess chief Paul Levy Resigns
Embattled Boston hospital CEO steps down

Paul Levy's exit cheered by women's groups
Ex-Beth Israel chief opens up on "error of judgment."

  Beth Israel CEO Paul Levy Will Resign
Beth Israel CEO Announces Resignation

 Beth Israel CEO Paul Levy resigns

  Beth Israel CEO Levy To Step Down

Beth Israel CEO Paul Levy Resigns
What's Next for Paul Levy?

  Embattled Hospital Chief Announces Resignation: Levy says he needs new challenges

Beth Israel president and CEO Paul Levy to resign

Paul Levy's Resignation Comes As A Shocker

Fenway News  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CEO Paul Levy Resigns

  Levy to step down at Beth Israel Deaconess